Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card vs. American Express Platinum: Which Travel Rewards Card Is Best for You?

5xs are a great way to reap the benefits (think: earning miles, upgrades, and free stays) from regular travel.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and American Express Platinum are not only solid options for travel, but also allow you to earn miles on your everyday spending, which can then be translated into free flights, upgrades, hotel stays, and more.

In a Nutshell

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is for people who want an easy-to-use travel credit card, but one that still allows for traditional benefits, like 2x miles on every purchase, 10x on hotels and rental cars, and 5x on flights when booked via Capital One Travel.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express is for those who want access to some of the best travel perks on the market and don’t mind paying for it.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the newest offering from Capital One. It’s differentiated by easy-to-redeem perks and flexibility.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Features

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers several easy-to-use benefits, from annual booking credits, anniversary bonuses, and access to lounges.

Another bonus? Its annual fee of just $395 is also on the lower end for a premium travel card.

• The Capital One Venture XRewards Credit Card has a $395 annual fee.
• Cardholders earn 2x miles on every purchase, 10x on hotels and rental cars, and 5x on flights booked via Capital One Travel. They can also earn up to a $300 annual credit for travel booked through Capital One Travel.
• The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Cardgifts users 10,000 bonus miles (equal to about $100 to spend toward travel) every account anniversary.
• Unlimited airport lounge access to 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges internationally.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Special Features

Additional benefits include up to $100 credit for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, a must-have for all seasoned travelers, plus a 75,000 mile welcome bonus after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Fees

Like any top-tier or premium travel credit card, you’re going to pay an annual fee. But the $395 Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card fee is on the lower end of the range, especially compared to American Express Platinums hefty $695 fee.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Pros and Cons

Before signing on the dotted line for a Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, be sure to consider both the pros and cons.

Pros

• Low annual fee.
• Easy-to-use benefits, like 2x miles earned on every purchase, 10x on hotels and rental cars, and 5x on flights booked via Capital One Travel.
• Annual booking credits, an anniversary bonus, and access to lounges.
• Option to earn additional benefits, like 75,000 bonus miles with $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening your account.

Cons

• Welcome bonus spending threshold is on the higher end.
• Flight benefits are limited to those booked via Capital One Travel.

Why Choose Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card?

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a solid choice for those looking to dip their toes into the world of travel credit card benefits. That’s because it has several uncomplicated perks, like 2x miles on every purchase, 10x on hotels and rental cars, and 5x on flights booked via Capital One Travel.

This card also boasts annual travel credits, an annual anniversary award of 10,000 bonus miles, and access to Capital One lounges and 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges worldwide.

And don’t forget about the 75,000 welcome bonus miles when you spend $4,000 within 3 months of opening the card.

Coupled with a lower annual fee of $395, it’s an easy choice for travelers who want a simple, but still benefit-rich, experience.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

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The Platinum Card® from American Express has long been touted as one of the industry’s best travel cards.

American Express Platinum Features

American Express Platinum offers a long list of travel benefits.

• 1x on all eligible purchases.
• 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel (up to $500,000 annually).
• Up to a $200 annual hotel credit on selected hotels (requires two-night minimum stay).
• Up to a $200 airline fee credit.
• Up to $240 annual digital entertainment credit (Enrollment Required).
• Up to a $300 annual credit on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox Club memberships (Enrollment Required).
• $200 in Uber Cash or up to $100 in an annual Saks credit.

The card’s welcome bonus is also solid. You’ll Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.. Terms Apply.

American Express Platinum Special Features

One thing this card has plenty of is statement credits. Whether it’s a $200 annual airline fee credit, $200 in Uber Cash, a $200 hotel credit, or a $240 annual credit for digital entertainment, you’ll save on travel somewhere. And for fitness junkies? There’s an annual $300 credit on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox Club memberships (Enrollment Required).

Another interesting feature is the card’s $189 CLEAR Credit (in annual statement credits). CLEAR is a biometric screening tool that helps you move through security more quickly and is available at selected airports. This bonus covers the cost of an annual CLEAR membership.

American Express Platinum Fees

The American Express Platinum card’s annual fee is $695, so definitely on the higher end for a premium travel card. But, with its many benefits and statement credits, you’ll likely recoup that cost.

American Express Platinum Pros and Cons

Before opening your own American Express Platinum card, be sure to consider the pros and cons.

Pros

• A long list of benefits, like 5x points earned on flights booked directly via airlines or via American Express Travels, plus statement credits ranging from airline and hotel credits to CLEAR or Equinox memberships.
• Established, consumer-friendly card.
• Solid welcome bonus, Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership..

Cons

• High annual fee.
• Benefits may be hard to navigate for travel credit card newbies.

Why Choose American Express Platinum?

The American Express Platinum card is ideal for seasoned travelers familiar with navigating the travel rewards space. Its benefits are long, from 1x on all eligible purchases, 5x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel, to a respectable 80,000 welcome bonus (when you spend $6,000 within 6 months of opening the card).

And that’s not to mention the long litany of annual statement credits, on everything from luxury shopping to gym memberships to airline and hotel credits.

This card is a good card to choose if you travel often, tend to stay in luxury hotels, and will spend enough annually to offset its annual fee.

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Bottom Line

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the American Express Platinum credit card are both solid choices when it comes to travel credit cards.

While the American Express Platinum offers a long list of benefits, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card may be a bit easier to use for travel card novices. Plus, it offers all the expected benefits for a travel card 2x miles on every purchase, 10x on hotels and rental cars, and 5x on flights when booked directly with Capital One Travel, plus a 75,000 welcome bonus with a low annual fee.